Having a Bad Skin Day? The Surprising Link Between Acne and Suicide

Have you ever had a breakout--large or small--and felt like it ruined your whole day/week? Honestly, I have. I'm the first to admit that a pimple--as small it may seem--can affect the way we feel about ourselves. But researchers have taken this thinking a step further, noting that acne has been linked to suicidal thinking ...

Having a bad skin day? I am. I can go months and months with clear skin, then--bam--a stress blemish hits. Ever get those?

But while, for most of us, an occasional zit is annoying, it's not the end of the world. Sadly, for some, bad acne can trigger a host of mental health issues, say researchers. In fact, according to a Norwegian study, teens who have bad acne are more than twice as likely to have mental health problems and at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts.

According to statistics, one in five young women have moderate to bad acne. And here's an interesting twist: The researchers question whether it's the acne that triggers the negative emotions or the treatment for acne.

I don't think this is a phenomenon unique to teens. I knew friends in college who both had acne and severe depression, and this study makes me connect the dots in ways I hadn't before.

Bottom line: If you have been dealing with acne issues for years and also depression, or suicidal thinking, please, please talk to your doctor, who can likely help you find a solution. And, here's a big hug!

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Tell me, have you ever had bad acne? Did it effect your emotional health? __